(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Numbers 10: 11–28, “And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.”
It’s all very good to have a structured plan but does it work? Israel had spent many months preparing for this moment. They celebrated their first Passover and now the Lord called on them to move. The cloud, representing the Lord’s presence with Israel was now ready to move. On the 20th day of the second month the cloud lifted up from the top of the Tabernacle and moved away. The cloud rested in another place. The marching orders took affect and the various tribes in their proper order started moving out. Each tribe had their own standard so that every member of that tribe could follow in their correct place. The camp was set up so that each tribe had their own area and the standard for each tribe was set up in the middle of their camp. Each person would be able to see their own standard from day to day so they knew exactly which standard to follow. Once the camp set out and each person saw what was happening and what they were expected to do they had more confidence in the way the plan operated. In time the entire camp could move out and set camp with complete confidence and everything happened efficiently and effectively.
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